Roller-guide for show-cases.



J. KNAPE.

ROLLER GUIDE FOR SHOW GASES.

APPLIOATIOH FILED DEO.17, 1912.

1,079,986, Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

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WITNESSES: I [NYE/(TOR dohnKvm oc BY %%fl/e @M/ M if J. KNAPE.

ROLLER GUIDE FOR SHOW CASES.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC.17,1912.

1,079,986, PatentedDec. 2, 1913.

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2 6 H I j H mum INVENTOII I TTDRNEY JOHN KNAPE, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

ROLLER-GUIDE FOR SHOW-CASES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

Application filed December 17, 1912. Serial No. 787,259.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN KNAPE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roller-Guides for Show-Cases; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention,: such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the are movable, and in various features of construction and arrangement as hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a show case or like structure having my invention applied thereto. Fig.2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 an enlarged transverse section of the same taken at one side of a pair of rollers. Fig. 4 the same through the axis of the rollers; Fig. 5 a plan view of the housing and rollers; Fig. 6 an elevation of the same with parts broken away; Fig. 7 a side elevation with a part of the frame broken away, and showing a modification of my device; Fig. 8 a plan view of the same; Fig. 9 a vertical transverse section of the same taken at one side of the rollers; Fig. 10 the same taken through the axis of the rollers.

1 represents the bottom rail of a show case or other like structure above which the glass plates 3 are supported. The top and ends of the case are of usual construction and not shown. This bottom rail has preferably a groove in the upper side of sufficient width to take in both glass plates opposite to each other and having sufiicient additional width to accommodate the guiding members 6 and 7 for the plates. Openings 2* are formed in the rail below this groove in which are carried rollers 8, each of which consists of a horizontal plate 4 fixed in the bottom of the groove 2, and provided with openings through which the supporting rollers 8 project upward sufficient to carry the glass plates clear of the bottom of the groove. Each housing is provided with depending ears 5 between which are carried two rollers 8 side by side and journaled on the pin 9 mounted in these ears. The metal struck out from the opening in the plate is turned upward vertically as at 6 and forms outside guides for the glass plates 3. A middle guide is also arranged in a vertical plane between the said plates, spaced apart to permit the same to enter freely therebetween and this plate 7 is provided with a lug 7 near each end extending through the plate 4 and secured therein. The upper part of this plate 7 serves as a middle guide for the glass plates to keep the same from contacting with each other when moved opposite to each other. The plate 7 is also extended downward between the rollers and recessed as at 7 to receive and embrace the pin 9 which pin is grooved where embraced by the plate and thus aids in supporting the plate in vertical position. These rollers8 are preferably provided with ball bearings 10 whereby they will rotate freely and thus permit free movement of the glass plates to and fro opposite each other. These plates when in position to close the case overlap a short distance as shown in the drawings and thus completely close the case and when the case is opened one plate is run edgewise opposite the other plate from its respective end of the case as occasion may require.

In the modification shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 the ball-bearings are omitted and instead of the middle plate 7, a continuous fiat strip 11 extends from end to end of the bottom rail 1 throughout the middle of the groove 2 therein and is inserted in a narrow groove in the bottom of the wide groove in the rail and also engages a groove formed in the plate 4, as at 4, whereby the strip is securely held in vertical position. This housing is provided with the up-turned guide portion (3 and the ears 5, the same as in the preferred form.

\Vhat I claim is:

l. A support for glass plates, comprising rollers to carry the plates, a sheet metal housing for the rollers consisting of a plate having an opening for the rollers, the metal removed from the plate to form the opening being turned upward to form side guides for the plates, downwardly turned ears at the respective sides of the plate, a pin supported by the ears and supporting the rollers, and a middle guide projecting upward from between the rollers.

2. A support for glass plates, comprising a pair of rollers spaced apart, a housing for the rollers consisting of a plate having an opening through which the upper part of the rollers project, upwardly projecting side guides and downwardly turned ears at the respective sides of the plate, a pin mounted in said ears and having a central groove, and a middle guide between the rollcrs embracing the pin within the groove.

3. As an article of manufacture, a support for glass plates, comprising a pair of rollers arranged side by side and a sheet metal housing consisting of a plate having side portions turned down to form ears; also having portions turned upward above said side portions to form side guides and an opening for said rollers, and a middle guide plate having lugs near the ends secured in said plate, said plate also extending downward between the rollers, and a pin in the ears on which the rollers are journaled and having a groove at the middle to receive the middle guide.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN KNAPE.

Witnesses:

HAROLD O. VAN ANTWERP, LUTHER V. MoUL'roN. 

